Note on the nomenclature and generic composition of the Ichnestomina Burmeister, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae)

Abstract

On the basis of its overwhelming use in the literature over the past 100 years, it is here suggested that a reversal of precedence be applied to preserve the prevailing usage of the subtribal name “Ichnestomina” Burmeister, 1842 against the more technically correct but virtually ignored “Ichnestomatina”. As none of the key symplesiomorphic characters of the Ichnestomina type genus Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron, 1833 and its related genera are shared with Paraxeloma Holm 1988, it is also proposed that this latter genus be removed from the Ichnestomina and reincorporated into the subtribe Cetoniina Leach, 1815, or alternatively into the Goliathina Griffith & Pidgeon, 1832.